Asylum family’s victory joy

A family of asylum seekers’ five-year battle to stay in Britain is over after they were granted indefinite leave to remain in the country. The Mansours, Coptic Christians from Egypt, fled their home country in 2005 after businessman and father of the family Hany was tortured for his beliefs.

A family of asylum seekers’ five-year battle to stay in Britain is over after they were granted indefinite leave to remain in the country.

The Mansours, Coptic Christians from Egypt, fled their home country in 2005 after businessman and father of the family Hany was tortured for his beliefs.

The family, who were held in detention during two previous attempts by the Home Office to deport them, were told they could stay in the UK permanently last Wednesday.

It means that Hany, mum Samah and children Nardin, 11, Karin, eight, twins Bishoy and Annastasia, four, and little Angela, two, can begin to build lives for themselves in south Manchester.

A jubilant Hany said the family was now planning a big party to celebrate with all their friends and supporters. "It is a miracle and the whole family are so happy now that we are safe," said Hany, 39. "I got the call from my solicitor to say we could stay as I was walking home.

"I was asking God for help and before I had even finished praying my phone rang.

"When I heard we could stay I could not speak for five minutes because I was crying – when I got home my wife thought something was wrong.

"I just hugged her and told her we could stay. Now we can all begin to live our lives."

The Mansours have been supported by friends from Our Lady’s Primary School in Whalley Range, where Nardin and Karin are pupils. They live on Quantock Street, Moss Side,

On two occasions police and immigration officials carried out dawn raids on the family’s home, taking them into detention at holding centres in Salford and Yarl’s Wood near Gatwick.

In July last year the family were just hours from being put on a flight to Cairo after 24 days in detention when a judge granted them a last-minute reprieve.

They were freed on bail after a 2,500-name petition and copies of the MEN's sister title South Manchester Reporter, which has supported the Mansours throughout their battle, were presented to him.

And Hany believes it was this constant show of public support that swung the decision for the family to stay.

He said: "I would like to thank this country and I promise I will repay the favour one day.